and many more benefits!

Find us on Facebook

GMAT Club Timer Informer

Hi GMATClubber!

Thank you for using the timer!
We noticed you are actually not timing your practice. Click the START button first next time you use the timer.
There are many benefits to timing your practice, including:

Hide Tags

George: Some scientists say that global warming will occur [#permalink]

Show Tags

22 May 2010, 09:22

1

This post wasBOOKMARKED

00:00

A

B

C

D

E

Difficulty:

45% (medium)

Question Stats:

66%(02:27) correct
34%(01:51) wrong based on 96 sessions

HideShow timer Statistics

George: Some scientists say that global warming will occur because people are releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere by burning trees and fossil fuels. We can see, though, that the predicted warming is occurring already. In the middle of last winter, we had a month of springlike weather in our area, and this fall, because of unusually mild temperatures, the leaves on our town’s trees were three weeks late in turning color.

Which one of the following would it be most relevant to investigate in evaluating the conclusion of George’s argument?

(A) whether carbon dioxide is the only cause of global warming(B) when leaves on the trees in the town usually change color(C) what proportion of global emissions of carbon dioxide is due to the burning of trees by humans(D) whether air pollution is causing some trees in the are to lose their leaves(E) whether unusually warm weather is occurring elsewhere on the globe more frequently than before

Show Tags

22 May 2010, 10:52

4

This post receivedKUDOS

noboru wrote:

George: Some scientists say that global warming will occur because people are releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere by burning trees and fossil fuels. We can see, though, that the predicted warming is occurring already. In the middle of last winter, we had a month of springlike weather in our area, and this fall, because of unusually mild temperatures, the leaves on our town’s trees were three weeks late in turning color.

Which one of the following would it be most relevant to investigate in evaluating the conclusion of George’s argument?

(A) whether carbon dioxide is the only cause of global warming(B) when leaves on the trees in the town usually change color(C) what proportion of global emissions of carbon dioxide is due to the burning of trees by humans(D) whether air pollution is causing some trees in the are to lose their leaves(E) whether unusually warm weather is occurring elsewhere on the globe more frequently than before

Seemed odd to me at first glance

Very often, when atacking a CR question , we must look at the CONCLUSION, premises just to support the conclusion and they should not be touched.

Premise 1 ( provided by very smart people!) : global warming will occur because people are releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, so: the release of CO2 leads -> to global warming

Premise/evidence 2: we had a month of springlike weather AND this fall the leaves on our town’s trees were three weeks late in turning color. Evidence of warm weather is provided. We begin to believe in the premise 1 provided by scientists and the evidence provided in premise 2.

Conclusion is : the predicted warming is occurring already Ok so far? Good. to undermine the conclusion we must cast doubts on CONCLUSION AND not on premises, as they are often unchangeable.

(A) whether carbon dioxide is the only cause of global warming - we don't care about the cause or whether it is only one or may be two casues - this atacks premise 1, we care about only "warming is occurring already"(B) when leaves on the trees in the town usually change color - usually? so what? this refers to premise 2, we keep in mind that "warming is occurring already" - not relevant, eliminate it!(C) what proportion of global emissions of carbon dioxide is due to the burning of trees by humans - - irrelevant: 1.since atacks premise not conclusion, 2. carbon dioxide proportion due to "the burning of trees by humans" is smaller when comparing to burning fossil fuels. (D) whether air pollution is causing some trees in the area to lose their leaves - it may cause or it may not, but how does it refers to conclusion? - eliminate it! moreover, D talks about polution and trees to lose their leaves, something about warming? No! move on. (E) whether unusually warm weather is occurring elsewhere on the globe more frequently than before - THIS IS IT!What if the warm weather is occurring elsewhere on the globe with the same frequency as before? If yes, it is occuring then the predicted warming is NOT occurring already - it really atacks the conclusion!

Show Tags

22 May 2010, 09:40

E! Reasoning:

noboru wrote:

George: Some scientists say that global warming will occur because people are releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere by burning trees and fossil fuels. We can see, though, that the predicted warming is occurring already. In the middle of last winter, we had a month of springlike weather in our area, and this fall, because of unusually mild temperatures, the leaves on our town’s trees were three weeks late in turning color.

Which one of the following would it be most relevant to investigate in evaluating the conclusion of George’s argument?

So we need to isolate George's conclusion. Not too hard: "the predicted warming is occurring already".What's his evidence? He gives two examples and they're BOTH tied to "unusually mild temperatures" (one is stated outright, the other implied).We'll need to see if his evidence is up to snuff since that's what his conclusion is built upon:

(A) whether carbon dioxide is the only cause of global warming. The cause of Global Warming is not what George is talking about. He is saying "whatever the reason, that **** is going down NOW, yo" (George is a bit of a gangsta).

(B) when leaves on the trees in the town usually change color I think this answer is here to trick you. Yes, it would be good to know this to see if maybe George is just wrong about his autumn example but it doesn't encompass the entirety of the evidence he put forth. We need to tackle the issue of oddly warm temperature.

(C) what proportion of global emissions of carbon dioxide is due to the burning of trees by humans Like A, this about the mechanics of Global Warming. Out of scope.

(D) whether air pollution is causing some trees in the are to lose their leaves Again this would be trying to dismantle George's autumn example in finding a third variable. Commendable, but ultimately it falls short.

(E) whether unusually warm weather is occurring elsewhere on the globe more frequently than before Bingo. Not only does this address the fuller scope of George's evidence, it also looks into whether or not the weird weather is actually global. This is by far the best answer, and if it's not right then that **** be wack, yo.

Show Tags

22 May 2010, 09:40

noboru wrote:

George: Some scientists say that global warming will occur because people are releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere by burning trees and fossil fuels. We can see, though, that the predicted warming is occurring already. In the middle of last winter, we had a month of springlike weather in our area, and this fall, because of unusually mild temperatures, the leaves on our town’s trees were three weeks late in turning color.

Which one of the following would it be most relevant to investigate in evaluating the conclusion of George’s argument?

(A) whether carbon dioxide is the only cause of global warming >>> Out of scope(B) when leaves on the trees in the town usually change color >>> Doesn't explain the phenomena of " In the middle of last winter, we had a month of springlike weather in our area"(C) what proportion of global emissions of carbon dioxide is due to the burning of trees by humans >>> Out of scope(D) whether air pollution is causing some trees in the are to lose their leaves >>> Doesn't explain the phenomena of " In the middle of last winter, we had a month of springlike weather in our area"(E) whether unusually warm weather is occurring elsewhere on the globe more frequently than before >>> IMO, correct

Conclusion : "We can see, though, that the predicted warming is occurring already."

Show Tags

17 Feb 2015, 22:17

Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.